Orange Theory Results – Fact or Fiction?

Are the Orange Theory Results true to what they advertise?

According to Orange Theory, they tout themselves as the best hour calorie burning workout. But is that really all that it is cracked up to be?

Well, I can tell you from experience, I put them to the test.

What Is Orange Theory?

First of all, let’s get started from the beginning. The Orange part of Orange Theory relates to your heart rate. To get in the fat burning zone you need to get your heart rate past the 65% mark of your max heart rate.

At 65% you will feel like you are working and getting a sweat.

At 75% you will be in the cardio zone, and if you keep this up for more than 30 minutes you will be sweating and starting to feel like you are getting a workout.

At 85% you are in the endurance zone or “Orange” zone. Here you are pushing yourself to the endurance levels of athletes and really making your fat cry.

If you are just starting to work out and they get you in the Orange zone, you start to think of all the ways you want to hurt your instructor. No joke, I counted at least 15!

How The Orange Zone Will Benefit You

According to the instructors, your goal is to get in the orange zone for 12-20 minutes of your 60 minute workout. If you get into any part of that range you are actually doing pretty good.

In the beginning you kinda feel like you want to die if it has been a while since you have pushed yourself. But, it also kick starts some endorphins and you get a little endurance high and want more.

I’m in shape and during my first session I thought I was going to taste a little encore of my oatmeal and blueberries I had just eaten. Close, but thankfully I only had to taste it once.

After a few weeks you really start getting your endurance levels up and start to enjoy the classes. You have to keep in mind that if it is your first class, it is also someone else’s 100th class. So go at your own pace and don’t get ahead of yourself.

After my first class I was in the orange zone for 9 minutes. After my third class, I was in the orange zone for 20 minutes. You body will adapt, and you will be a fat burning machine! Now you will see the Orange Theory Results!!

The Orange Theory Results Breakdown

The classes vary depending on the instructor, but the overall structure remains consistent:

Treadmill

Rowing Machine

Weights (bodyweight, TRX, balls, etc.)

Repeat

Although it is different each class, the format of the classes are pretty much the same. If you are a runner and like to run, then you will see Orange Theory Results!

Personally, I am not a runner and really don’t get my heart rate up enough to get the benefit of the treadmill circuits with walking

I do like the mix of adding the weights, but after going to a few classes, the format really doesn’t change much.

How To Get The Best Orange Theory Results

As much as I don’t like the treadmill as much as they incorporate it, I do like the class. I can complain all I want, but the reality is, when I am finished I usually burn over 800 calories.

What is my option for that hour? I could go to the gym and take a class, ride a stationary bike, or walk on the treadmill. Either way, I wouldn’t spend an hour on it and I wouldn’t burn near the calories.

So what do I do now? I use Orange Theory as my cardio days, and concentrate on strength training to maintain muscular endurance at my favorite gym.

It is perfect for the time being when I want to burn some calories and need an extra little push.

However, after doing it for a few months I foresee myself getting a little bored and moving to a different workout program.

Conclusion

If you are hard pressed for a high calorie burn, you will get results from Orange Theory. The cost is not much more than a big box gym. However, if you go to one of the bigger gyms their fitness classes will have a more diverse class schedule to alleviate your boredom.

Whatever you do, just do something. Keep active is how we keep alive!

My overall conclusion, Orange Theory Results are fact! However, those results may be temporary if that is all you are doing.